Effects of oestrogen supplementation and space restriction on PGF2α-induced nest-building in pseudopregnant gilts

This study examined the role of oestrogen supplementation on PGF2α-induced nest-building in pseudopregnant gilts. Oestradiol valerate (5 mg/day) injections were given on Days 11–15 of the oestrous cycle to induce pseudopregnancy. A further series of injections of either oestradiol valerate (5 mg/day) or vehicle were given on days 44–46 of pseudopregnancy to reflect more closely the hormone profile seen in pregnancy. Nest-building was induced by a single intramuscular injection of 15 mg of PGF2α (Lutalyse) on Day 47 of pseudopregnancy. The gilts were housed in pens (2.8×1.7 m) containing straw in experiment 1 or chronically confined in crates (0.6×1.7 m) that did not contain straw on days 44–48 of pseudopregnancy for experiment 2. Oestrogen supplemented gilts had significantly higher concentrations of circulating 17β-oestradiol on day 47 of pseudopregnancy but there were no significant differences between treatments for circulating levels of prolactin, progesterone, cortisol or oxytocin, or for any behavioural measure in either experiment. These results indicate that there is no direct effect of supplementing already pseudopregnant gilts with oestradiol valerate on PGF2α-induced nest-building. The results also show that the pre-partum environment has a pronounced effect on nest-building behaviours and that non-pregnant pigs might be a useful model for pre-partum nest-building in this species.